Sweatband for hats



Get. 7, 1924.

H. D. KRAMER SWEATBAND FOR HATS Filed Aug.

FFGJI,

w/T/vsssfs Patented. Get 7, 1924.

UN'ETED stares .HO'MER' n. KRAMER, or PITTSBITRGH, PnN'nsYnvANIA;

SWEATB'AN'D FOR HATS.

Application filed August .2, 1923. Serial in. 655,185

To (ZZZ whom it come m.- I p Be it knownthat I, HQMER D. KRAMER, residing at Pittsburg'ln in the county of Allegheny and State Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Iniprovements in Sweatba'nd s .for Hats, of which improvements the following is a specification, I v V .My invention relates to the sweat-bands of hats, and is found in apneumatic band of particular structure and arrangement. The band of my invention possesses the manifestly desirable characteristics of a pneumatic band in a form and in comblnation with accessory structural features, such as to renderit in every respect adequate and desirable.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. I is aview vertical and medial secti'o nof a hat having applied to it the sweat-band o'funy invention. Fig. II is a 'view in hor zontal section, onfthe plane indicated at I III, F g. 1., Figs. III and IV are fragmentary views tolarger scale, showing in horizontal section and in elevationa portion of the band, and illustrating features of structure and the ni'ethoc'l of attachment to the hat. Figs.

V and VI show in elevation and in horizontal section an alternative arrangement. VII and VIII show in side elevation and in vertical section another alternative. Fig. IX is a view similar to Fig. III, illustrating a modification. v

The sweat-band includes, first of all, a foundation stiffener 1. v This stiffener is formed of material of suitable rigidity and lightness, and isadapted to serve in association with the other parts in the manner I am about to describe. A suitable material is fibreboard three one-hundred-and-twentyeighths of an inch in thickness. The width of the stifiener may vary, according to circumstances, but ordinarily a width of seven eighths of an inch is proper. The stiffener will ordinarily be made intwo sections, each of approximately semi-circumferential extent with respect to the hat.

Preferably the lengths will be slightly less than semi-circumferential, leaving, when the band is applied, spaces between the ends ,of the sections, and into these spaces shorter lengths of similar material will be intro duced. So that all told there are in the completed sweat-band four lengths of board or its equivalent. The edges of the stiffener are rounded, so that there will be no danger of abrading or tearing the. 1

rubber parts with which, as presently will be explained, the stiffener is associated.

And holesare formed through the .stiifener,-

veniently and'economica'lly the sti-fi'ener 1 is.

enclosed and encased, as the drawings show it to be, in an expansible rubber tube 2. The size of the :tube is preferably such that, when in place and not inflated, it fitslsnug upon the stiffener within. The rubber then may .or may not be under slight tension. The thickness of the tube wall and the elasticityof the rubber used will be carefullyv adapted to the end in View. Ordinarily, with rubber of elasticity approaching thatordi narily used for such purposes, the thickness will approximate that of the stiffener. I

The stiffener so encased in rubber .is anchored firmly, and by its anchoring is held snug against the inner wall of the hat. Several alternative methods of anchoring will presently be particularly described.

The tube2 which encloses the stiffener 1 is provided with an inflation tube 3, and

when the band has been applied, the tube 2 is by such means inflated The anchoring means hold the stiffener snug against the wall of the hat (with a wall of rubber between), and theflinfiation will consist in a bulging or bellying out of the tube on the inside only, on the side whichin use engages the he'a'dof the wearenas indicated in Figs. 1, II, III, and VI. I

Means of attachment ofstiifener 1 to hat wall 4- as shown in Figs. III and consist of a flexible tongue ,5' of suitable metal, aluminum say, riveted .to' stiffener 1 on its outer side, .and through the outer wall of the enveloping tube 2. .A. pluralityof such v tongues are secured toeach stiffener. AsI have said, I preferably. employ two stiffstiifeners being of equal length, each apprdximately a half of the whole circumferential extent of the hat. With two's'tifiener s of approximately semi-circumferential extent,

'eners in making the band of a hat, the'two I provide two or more tongues for each, secured near the ends of the stiffeners (additional tongues may be secured at intermediate points). In making application the tongues initially extend at right angles to the sweat-band, the'band is brought to place, and the tongues are thrust through the hat wall, and then are bent smooth beneath the outer band 6 of the hat. Tn securing the sweat-band the stiff material is warped until it lies snug against the inner wall of the hat and the band is then secured. The anchoring is firm, and the rigidity of the material is such that the stiffener lies snug along the hat wall, with a layer of rubber between, and inflation, when effected, occurs substantially all on the inner face of the sweat-band. The riveting through is made air-tight, in consequence of the incidental compression exerted upon the edges, where the rubber is pierced by the rivet. Thus the desired pneumatic effect is got in a minimum space between the wearers head and the wall of the hat, and clumsiness of appearance is avoided.

It is a simple matter to stretch the rubber of tube 2 at the ends somewhat, and so expose the strip for riveting in the manner shown in Fig. III. Instead, and as shown in Figs. V and VI, the riveting may be effected through both walls of the tube. The breaking of the crowned edge of the rivet, in the familiar manner indicated in Fig. V, may in the structure of Fig. 111 be found undesirable, in that the relatively sharp corners may be a source of danger in the tearing of the rubber. It is a simple matter to select rivets of soft metal, so that the edges of the crown formed in riveting will not split but remain continuous. The tongue 5 is, as best shown in Fig. V, preferably formed as an extension from a body which encircles the rivet and constitutes a washer or collar, to make the joint smooth and airtight.

Still other means of anchoring are illustrated in Figs. VII and VIII. Here a staple 7 is provided whose prongs are driven through the walls of the hat from the outside, and beneath the hat band. The spread of the staples is equal to the width of the sweat band. The prongs of the staple are provided with securing protrusions, indicated at 8. The staples are initially thrust through the hat walls at the proper points. The sweat band is then brought to place. Thereupon the prongs of the staples are folded down over the inner face of the sweat band, and sufficient pressure is applied to impress the protrusions 8 into the sweat band, and, compressing the rubber wall between, into recesses which may be formed for the purpose in the stiffener 1. Thus firm anchorage is got.

At the ends I close the tube 2, to form a closed and inflatable sack. As shown in Figs. H and HI closure of the ends is effected by cementing or vulcanizing, or both cementing and vulcanizing, the tube within to the surface of the stiffener which it envelopes. The stiffener thus is held securely within the rubber tube and there is no possibility that the rubber may be cut by the corners of the stiffener. As shown in Figs.

V and VI the tube is somewhat longer than the stifiener, and the tube walls are united face to face, beyond the end of the stiffener.

T have said that I prefer to form the stiffeners 1 in two semi-circumferential halves. Correspondingly I provide two lengths of tube, each of approximately equal length with a stiffener, and, with attention fixed particularly on Fig. II, I then have short intervals, oppositely arranged, at front and back, where the band is not inflatable. The band being elsewhere inflated, these intervals afford spaces for air circulation, and constitute the hat a cooler hat for the wearer. Of course such circulation spaces may be provided, even though the sweat band he formed in a continuous circumferential piece, but the two-piece struc ture makes the provision of circulation spaces simple and is otherwise preferable. These circulation spaces may be made wide or narrow, as preferred.

I have said also that while'T make the stiifeners each of approximately semi-circumferential length, I prefer to make them something less than that and to bridge the gap between with shorter lengths of fibre board. This refinement is shown in Figs. HT :and IV. Here a short length of fibre board 10 is interposed. between the ends of the two stiffener-s l which together constitute the foundation of the sweat-band as a whole, and the end of the tube, extended cuff-like beyond the region of closure, encloses the interposed length 10 of fibre board. It will be understood that in making application of the sweat-band to a particular hat the length 10 of fibre board may be trimmed accurately to size; that the cuff extending from one or both sections of the two-part s t-band may be correspondingly trimmed; and that the length of fibre board 10 so inserted may when in place be stitched to .or otherwise secured to the wall of the hat. The cuffs which enclose the inserted length 10 are of course not inflated.

By such means I provide for nice adjustment in applying the sweat-band to the hat: and I provide also for a relatively wide ventilation space, which I find advantageous. I intend that this ventilation space shall be from one to three inches wide, measured in the direction of the circumference. This interposed piece 1 preferably form of fibre board somewhat thinner than that of which the stiffeners are formed. This I may do without impairing its usefulness as a bracing member, and at the same time by so doing I increase the depth of the ventilating space.

The length of fibre board 10 introduced between the ends of the stiffeners 1 and enclosed Within the extended cuffs of rubber at the ends of the tube sections 2 afiords a brace, and is particularly useful when the sweat-band is applied to a soft hat. Various modifications in detail are admissible. For instance, as particularly shown in Fig. IX the structure resembles that of Fig. III. The cuff-like extensions of the rubber tubes,

' however, are not present, but the tube sections 2 are trimmed flush with the stiffeners 1. The inserted length of fibre board 10 which bridges the gap between the ends of the sweat-band sections is braced, not as in Fig. III against the ends of the stifleners 1, but it underlies the ends of the stiffeners and the ends of the tube sections also, and is braced against the rivets by which the tongues 5 are anchored. A separate tube section 11 encases the inserted length 10 of fibre board and overlaps the ends of the sweat-band sections. This tube section is of course not inflated.

It will be understood in considering IX that in thickness the dimensions are for the sake of clear showing exaggerated, and that in fact the finish of the structure is much smoother than the figure might lead one to understand.

If it be desired to make the ventilation space deeper, the ply of rubber adjacent the hat-wall may be cut away, and the otherwise free edges of the rubber secured to the inserted length of fibre board.

If the hat have a lining the inflation tubes 3 may, after inflation be tucked out of sight behind the lining.

Operation is obvious. The sweat-band when applied in the manner described stands ready for inflation, and the hat which approximately fits may by inflation to greater or less degree be made to fit accurately.

Ordinarily the range of inflation will be from a sixteenth to an eighth of an inch. The hat may then be accurately fitted to the head. It is comfortable to wear, the feature of inflation giving exceptional comfort. The hat provided with this sweatband will not impress a mark upon the forehead. The hat may be pressed tight on the head and may not then easily be blown. off. The ventilation afforded by the uninflated spaces is effective beyond any ordibe kept clean. The material is not hygroscopic and it accordingly protects the hat against fouling and staining by sweat.

Superiority over other inflated bands lies in this, that inflation effects bellying of the band in one direction only, that is inward, and in consequence the desired good effect can be got within a space interval half of what otherwise would be required, and so the appearance of the hat when worn is trim and neat, as otherwise would not be the case.

I claim as my invention:

1. An inflatable sweat-band for hats, including in combination a stiffener of rigid material and a sack of elastic and expansible material enclosing said stiffener, the structure adapted to be secured when de flated in close parallelism to the wall of a hat and when so secured adapted on inflation to present an inwardly bellied pneu matic cushion for engagement with the head of the wearer.

2. An inflatable sweat-band for hats including in combination a stiffener of rigid material and a closed sack of elastic and expansible material enclosing said stiffener, and tongues of flexible metal protruding from the band at intervals, said tongues being anchored through the wall of said sack and to said strip, the penetration of the. anchoring means through the sack-wall being air tight. r

3. An inflatable sweat-band for hats including in combination a stiffener of rigid material and a closed sack of elastic and expansible material enclosing said stiffener, annular collars provided each with a flexible tongue, and a rivet extending through each ring and securing each. tongue-bearing ring to the stiffener.

4. An inflatable sweat-band for hats formed of two stilfeners of rigid material, each of substantially semi-circum-ferential length, said sweat-band including a pneumatic sack closed terminally enclosing each of said stiffeners, each stiffener provided adjacent its ends with anchoring means, the

pneumatic sacks at each end extending beyond the point of closure in the form of joint-forming cuffs, and bridge pieces enclosed by such cuffs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HOMER D KRAMER.

Witnesses PERCY A. ENGLISH, FREDA E. WOLFE. 

